: Clothing (clothes, apparel and atire)


Clothing, in Arabic: is a collective term for items that are worn on body. It stems from Root: ل ب س. Learned Ibn Faris [died 1005]stated in his famous lexicon: مقاييس اللغة 

اللام والباء والسين أصلٌ صحيح واحد، يدلُّ على مخالَطَة ومداخَلة. من ذلك لَبسْتُ الثَّوبَ ألْبَسُه، وهو الأصل

واللَّبْس اختلاط الأمر

That it leads to the perception of mixing, sociality, and interposition, interjection, step in. It thus means wearing article of clothing, garment which is its primary signification. And it means uncertainty, ambiguity, rendering an affair messy, confused, dubious.

Clothing is distinction of human beings and is feature of all human societies. Grand Qur’ān informed:

  • O You the posterity of Adam! Our Majesty has sent clothing upon you people. Its characteristic feature is that it renders your bodies covered-concealedbody-contours/inflection points veiled-confused; and its other feature is that it serves as integuments/feathers like protection [from heat discharge/outflow-16:81].

  • Take note about the Garment of Cautiousness and Restraint: It is the best best veil and integument.

  • This information about clothing is a disclosure-sign out of miscellany of pointers of Allah the Exalted with the purpose that hopefully they develop habit of remembering the Divine Providence. [7:26]

Ever since his creation the clothing is essential and integral part of the person of human being. Ieb'lees seems to be aware of the affect of eating of fruit of prohibited tree as he intended stripping off their clothes to make them see each other's naked body.

The word "رِيشٙا" is a collective noun and is used after the verb with conjunction defining/explaining the basic purpose of the dress. Therefore, it shows that the dress functions to veil the body as feathers. Hence beautification are not the meaning but inference. Today, we need to study what feathers do for a bird. Birds are warm blooded and we know the heat is something constantly in flow. Warm blooded birds and we human need to maintain a certain body temperature.
"Feathers perform a number of functions for a bird. Firstly, they provide insulation, this is very important in a warm blooded animal (body temperature of most birds is maintained at around 40C). It is believed by most scientists that this insulating effect was the primary force driving the evolution of feathers, i.e. ancestral birds developed feathers to keep themselves warm. Feathers also protect birds from UV light.
Secondly, feathers allow for flight. Scientists believe that flight evolved in birds as a result of their possessing basic feathers and that this added selective pressure to the evolution of feathers making them larger, stronger and refining their structure. Thirdly, feathers control what a bird looks like. A plucked chicken or pigeon looks very different to a fully feathered one. Feathers supply the bird with colours allowing for camouflage and secondary sexual characteristics and sexual display. Consider the tail feathers of a peacock."

The purpose of wearing is also given in 16:81 where heat phenomenon is specifically mentioned. Let us read Qur’ān while remaining in 21st century and forget about inference of beautification, and literally take it as functioning like feathers. This will also show that dress code for women and men is different and is reflective as third sexual characteristic. Beard and bosoms being the secondary sexual characteristic.

The peculiarity/function indicated by word "رِيشٙا" is explicitly explained:

  • And He the Exalted has rendered the garments for you people as preserving for you individually the heat - to protect you from heat.

Root: س ر ب ل 

  • And the garments that protect you individually from mutual hostility-offensive.

Root: س ر ب ل ; و ق ى

  • This is how He the Exalted completes His blessing upon you people

  • May be realizing it you people submit. [16:81]

Heat always remains in flow. Feathers help retain the body temperature in addition to giving a glimpse of beauty and attraction.

Allah the Exalted warned: 

 

  • O You the posterity of Adam! Be mindful, Shai'taan (descriptive/expressive name given to Ieb'lees)) should not henceforth liquefy and expose you people;

  • Like he caused exodus of your parents from the Paradise;

  • He (Shai'taan-descriptive/expressive name given to Ieblees) intended stripping their clothing off their bodies so that he may cause them seeing body of each other. [Refer 7:27]

Dress is human's distinction. It is symbol of honour, dignity, sanctity and protective layer to preserve heat. Let us reflect on the reaction of the first man and woman when they became nude and naked for the eyes of each other. They felt perturbed and disturbed and in haste started to take themselves into the position, in which they were before violating the advice of not eating/tasting fruit of that female tree. They hastened to cover their bodies. No one had asked them to do like that. It was their own instant action. We must be proud of our father and mother. Our respects and salutes to both of them. And see the tragedy of the "progressive" posterity of Adam. We have nude clubs today and stupidly perceive that since man is born nude therefore to remain nude in the group is a natural phenomenon. This is what we call man is at loss in time.

  • Realize it, He the Exalted is the One Who has appointed and rendered for you people the night as like wrapper -garmentsource of comfort - seclusion from others

  • اور وہ جناب ہیں جنہوں نے رات کو تم لوگوں کے لئےلباس کی مانند کر دیا جو نشیب و فراز کو اوجھل کر دیتا ہے،۔

Root: ل ب س

  • And the sleep as a source-cause of rest and restraint to free action

  • اور انہوں نے نیند کوآرام و سکون  کا ذریعہ بنا دیا۔

Root: ن و م

  • And He the Exalted has appointed and rendered the Day for revival - scattering - social activity. [25:47]

  • اور انہوں نے دن کوزندگی کی اشاعت و پھیلاؤکا ذریعہ بنا دیا۔

Root: ن ش ر


  • And Our Majesty have rendered the night as wrapper/garment [source of comfort/seclusion from others]. [78:10]

  • اورہم جناب نےرات کولباس کی مانند کر دیا جو نشیب و فراز کو اوجھل کر دیتا ہے،۔

Root: ل ب س

Dress is like the night which spreads darkness and makes the things non visible, obscure. Any dress that makes the contours/figure more prominent, does not qualify to be called dress. The dress is stitched one which is worn on the body. But the stitched dress may not hide those parts of the body which are raised above the surface which serve as secondary distinction/identification of sex/gender of human beings. Any thing which is raised above the ground level is called: ;  , evident, visible, conspicuously perceivable; outer and upper portion of anything.

Grand Qur’ān has disclosed that men have varying sensual excitements and some women are fascinatingly attractive for them.

  • Know it; the love of erotic predilections - stimulators has become alluring for the people (Men), fetish from the women

This part of the Ayah is structurally a simple sentence which will become compound with the following conjunction particle Waw; and is declarative by function. Declarative sentences are used to convey information or to make statements. This Ayah is an information report which classifies, describes and gives factual information about people. Information report usually begins with a general classification or definition, lists a sequence of related information about topic; and ends with a concluding comment.

The topic of information statement is: : Something has become alluring for the people

Verb: Perfect; third person; plural; masculine; Passive; [Form-II]; مصدر-تَزْيِيْنٌ Verbal Noun. Its Root is:   ز ى نIt leads to the perception of proportionality and beauty of a thing; and its adoration, ornamentation, beautification. It gives the thing alluring quality.

Prepositional phrase: لِ Inseparable preposition + Noun: Definite by article; Plural; Masculine; genitive; meaning "the people". The definite article is of the kind: الْجِنْسِيَّةُ لبَيَانَ الحَقِيقَةِ:  It is to point only a fact, it does not include all members of the genus; thus means: generally speaking. In relation to women, it will denote generally speaking about Men, not the entire genus; and for other information it denotes "the people, generally speaking or the majority of people.

: It is a possessive phrase which is Proxy Subject of the preceding Passive Verb. This is what has become appealing, fascinating, alluring for the Men, generally speaking.

:  Verbal Noun: Indefinite; nominative. It stems from Root:  ح ب ب. It signifies strong lasting attachment, beloved, an object liked and loved.

: Noun: Definite; plural; feminine; genitive. It stems from Root:  ش ھ و. Ibn Faris [died 1005] stated:

(مقاييس اللغة)

الشين والهاء والحرف المعتل كلمة واحدة، وهي الشّهوة. يقال: رجلٌ شَهْوانُ، وشيءٌ شَهِيّ.

That it signifies desire, longing, yearning; it refers lustful, erotic, libidinous, over-sexed man. and appeasing, delicate, stimulating or appealing thing.

Thus signifies "The erotic predilections (special liking or preferences) - stimulators".

The prepositional phrase: "some of the women; from the women" relates to  elided circumstantial clause - state [متعلقان بمحذوف حال من الشهوات] for . The circumstantial clause with prepositional phrase relating to women restricts it to:: sexually exciting, arousing, sexually turning-on signals.

Preposition: denotes the commencement. The temporal point of departure, the point at which a state has commenced. When used in this signification, Arab Grammarians call it "denotes the commencement of the limits in place and time" or simply "lil ibteda" to denote the commencement.

It also denotes the casual point of departure, the origin and source of a thing; Grammarians say that in this case is used for assigning the reason

The information is about the experience of the majority of men. We find in the literature specifically studying men's arousal patterns repeatedly emphasizing their sensitivity to visual cues. As soon as the lust-inspiring image registers in their brain, they become turned-on—not only physically but psychologically, too. This is the reason that believing men are instructed to reduce their gaze to escape arousal by fetish - any sexually arousing stimuli and to guard their genitals.

  • You the Messenger [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] pronounce for the Believing Men that they should reduce their focused observation-gaze [visual attention upon women-most powerful stimuli to excite-first step]

  • And they should guard their genitalia [the end area in sex process]

  • It is a purer and elevated course of conduct for them.

  • Indeed Allah the Exalted is fully aware of what they people [lust mongers] artfully devise. [24:30]

As an extreme caution, believing women are also instructed to reduce their gaze:

  • And you the Messenger [Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam] pronounce for the Believing Women that they should reduce their focused attention upon men [just for info: it is most powerful stimuli to excite]

  • And that they should preserve their genitalia [Refer 24:31]

Reduced gaze will help an individual avoid Partialism: sexual interest with an exclusive focus on a specific part of the body.

Generally speaking, men avoid actually sharing their erotic predilections and experiences with others. It is evident from the information that the erotic predilections and fetish could be different for individuals:

  • Know it; the love of erotic predilections - stimulators has become alluring for the people (Men), fetish from the women

The most attractive body parts that are considered fetish are those which are ordered to be kept under extra veil when women are in the company of males or other women. The injunctions for women in this regard are not in the sense of restricting their preferences for dress code but in fact to facilitate men since sexual system can become self operative even without the desire of an individual. Thereby women are advised:

  • And that they should not cause their bosom noticeable - prominent (by artificial methods) except that of her which has naturally become noticeable. [Refer 24:31]

Verbal sentence: comprises of Verb: Imperfect; Transitive; Third person; plural; feminine; Mood: Jussive by prohibitive particle; [Form-IV] + suffixed Subject Pronoun in nominative state; مصدر-اِبْدَاءٌ Verbal noun.

Verb stems from Root: ب د و . It signifies appearance, emergence, rise, display, manifestation, and disclosing, revealing some thing. It is antonym of hiding, concealing, veiling something.

Form IV verb is Causative - Causing someone or something to perform the action of Measure I.

The direct object of verb is: ; a possessive phrase; Noun: Definite by construct; singular; feminine; accusative + Possessive pronoun: Third person; plural; feminine; in genitive state. It has no meaning other than "their bosom, their object of attraction" as is evident from the exceptive clause:   إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْـهَا  barring that which has become noticeable. The excepted part is of their allure - attraction and it is: مَا ظَهَرَ  

مَا : Relative Pronoun, masculine; its Linkage clause is verbal sentence: ظَهَر   Perfect verb with subject pronoun hidden, third person, singular, masculine. Prepositional Phrase: مِنْـهَا  related to verb and object pronoun of preposition is referent to meaning a part of their allure. The verb stems from Root: ظ ھ ر  which signifies a thing became outward, perceptible, manifest or noticeable.

Make up and all other adornments are purposely made or worn. There is no point of their being naturally surfaced above ground level. Their natural allure-a source of attraction for other sex is their bosoms which are naturally surfaced upon chest.

Women are advised to let their bosom as they are naturally developed noticeably and try not making them more prominent by artificial methods. There is no denying many women are concerned and interested in enhancing shape and size of their bosom.

The following conjunct injunctions make it explicit that: is euphemism for their breast and that that the protuberance visible in the normal dress should be covered by extra unsown sheet:

  • And they should strike barrier for covering their bosom by putting their unsown sheets upon their chests. [Refer 24:31]

It is conjunct to the previous clause with conjunction particle, followed by prefixed Imperative Particle. Next to it is Verbal sentence:  Verb: Imperfect; Transitive; Third person; plural; feminine; Mood: Jussive; نَ Subject pronoun, in nominative state; مصدر-ضَرْبٌ Verbal noun.

Since woman's breast, being protuberant cone like fetish, is noticeable in the worn dress, they are advised to cover them by putting their extra sheets upon their chest . It will create a space to let air come in between the bosom and sheet covering the protuberance.

Breasts are surfaced upon the chest, thereby it is explicit that placing extra sheet on chests is only to cover the bosoms. Thus: refers to nothing else but is euphemism for their bosom, which is their secondary sex characteristic. It is explicitly mentioned by repeating the same injunction:

  • And they should not cause their bosom to be noticed (by removing unsown sheet)

The exceptive clauses to this injunction also render the euphemism explicit for the body part it refers:

  • Except for their husbands

  • Or before their fathers, or fathers of their husbands

  • Or before their sons or the sons of their husbands from other wives

  • Or before their brothers, or sons of their brothers, or sons of their sisters

  • Or before their own-family women [not strangers]

  • Or before maid servants under their control and obligation

  • Or before male attendants who are "other than holders of genitalia desiring for marriage- castrated" considered in state of amongst the Men

  • Or before the children who have not become aware regarding the "sexual parts/aspects" of the women. [Refer 24:31]

An exception given to women to let remain their bosom noticeable is in the presence of children who are specified that they have not become aware: ; a prepositional phrase coupled with possessive phrase which relates to preceding verb in perfect meaning by Negation Jussive Particle. The Possessive Phrase: signifies the sexual parts of women. It is because their exposure has aspect of shame. In Ayah 24:58 seeking prior permission by everyone of the household is made mandatory for visiting the bedroom of husband and wife at three timings which are appointed as of sexual privacy for the couples using the same word: : These are three privacies appointed for you (people - spouses).

This is yet another evidence that: refers only to "their bosom", a secondly sex organ of women.

It is again rendered explicit that it refers to secondary sex organ:

  • Take note, the aged single in the women folk who have no desire and intention for Nikah -marriage:

  • Take note, the aged singles, whether virgins, widows or divorcee in the women folk who have no desire and intention for Nikah -marriage

  • Thereby, no blame - objection shall lie upon them in laying off their extra sheet upon chest in the manner unlike of those women who project their bosoms rendering their selves alluring

  • However, their modestly retaining extra sheets is a better option for them.

  • Remain cautious; Allah the Exalted is eternally the Listener; the Absolute Knowledgeable. [24:60]

Laying off extra sheet is not blame worthy if this condition is there:  . It is circumstantial accusative. The Possessive Phrase: signifies those women who are other than of those fond of self exposing. Plural feminine active participle: is derived from Form-V verb stemming from Root:  ب ر ج. It signifies projection, display, and exposure of her finery and beauties by woman.

Active Participles are formed from the Present Tense Active Voice Verb. One of the unique feature of an Active participle is that it has a verbal quality. It signifies that it has the same meaning as the Active Voice Verb and can even govern words in the same manner as a verb governs in a sentence. 

Form-V verb and active participle has reflexive causative meanings. The subject receives back the impact of action. Thereby, this Participle denotes those women who by projecting their bosoms render their selves alluring for other sex.

Apart from enlarged breasts the widened hips of females are also considered secondary sex fetish. They also need to be covered when in public:

  • O you the Elevated and Chosen Allegiant [Muhammad Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam]:

  • Pronounce for your wives and your daughters and for the women of believers: they intentionally drop a part of their shawls downwards upon their selves  - lower part of the body

  • This action is better suited for their recognition [by this identity as righteous non exposing women] whereby they are not harassed/embarrassed [by others in streets/markets].

  • Know it, Allah the Exalted has always been oft Overlooking/Forgiving, the Merciful. [33:59]

Wrapping unsown sheets on chest and dropping shawls on lower part of the body helps concealing the female figure which is the cumulative product of a woman's skeletal structure and the quantity and distribution of muscle and fat on the body. The bust, waist, and hips, called inflection points, define the body shapes. Once the inflection points are covered, the eyes of an onlooker will not get any cue for objectifying a woman in the street, whereby, she will be recognized as pious lady not interested in luring men. Thereby, there will be no harassing and embarrassing response from an on-looking man because his eyes did not convey any alluring image and cue to his brain.